A federal judge has ordered open access in the White House to all journalists. So, who gets to decide who is a journalist and who isn't? This blogger doesn't like to play Devil's advocate or Trump's advocate (assuming that there is a difference between the two), but he will in this case. In his blog post Are members of the Press misinterpreting the First Amendment? … [Read more...] about So, who gets to decide who is a journalist and who isn’t?
American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ – their wartime experiences are a warning for today
A staged recreation of Mauthausen’s liberation, May 6, 1945. Spanish prisoners documented the camp’s actual liberation the day prior using Nazi cameras. National Archives and Records, Cpl. Donald R. Ornitz, US Signal Corps/Administration, III-SC-206395 Sara J. Brenneis, Amherst College When American soldiers liberated the Mauthausen Nazi … [Read more...] about American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ – their wartime experiences are a warning for today
EVERYTHING IS TRUMP (CARTOON)
Satire: I Raised the Tariffs
By Laurie Baron (Sung to the tune of I Shot the Sheriff) I raised the tariffs On both U.S. friends and enemies. I raised the tariffs I’m a genius on economies. Who cares if stocks are about to crash The rich gain more from the taxes I’ll slash. I’m glad it makes the lefties squirm. I plan to serve another term. Until the factories return. And I … [Read more...] about Satire: I Raised the Tariffs
“They Don’t Care About Civil Rights”: Trump’s Shuttering of DHS Oversight Arm Freezes 600 Cases, Imperils Human Rights
“They Don’t Care About Civil Rights”: Trump’s Shuttering of DHS Oversight Arm Freezes 600 Cases, Imperils Human Rightsby J. David McSwane and Hannah AllamProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.On Feb. 10, more than a dozen Department of Homeland Security officials joined … [Read more...] about “They Don’t Care About Civil Rights”: Trump’s Shuttering of DHS Oversight Arm Freezes 600 Cases, Imperils Human Rights
Trump vowed to wreck the economy. He won anyway. Now he’s doing it.
One month from today I’m flying to France to join a World War II tour, and I suspect that some curious European will ask me to explain or defend you know what. I’ll simply say, “J’ai honte de mons pays,” which means “I am ashamed of my country.” The reasons are too numerous to mention, but three numbers top the list: 63 million (the voters who flocked to Trump in 2016), 74 … [Read more...] about Trump vowed to wreck the economy. He won anyway. Now he’s doing it.
Stop Comparing Trump’s Lawbreaking to Caesar Crossing the Rubicon
The Roman General Broke One Law and Was Met With War. The U.S. President Is Breaking Laws Left and Right—Without Major Resistance By Michele Renee Salzman Commentators love to compare Donald Trump’s norm-breaking ways to Julius Caesar’s momentous decision to “cross the Rubicon” in 49 B.C.E. By leading his troops over the Rubicon River and into Italy to stand for election … [Read more...] about Stop Comparing Trump’s Lawbreaking to Caesar Crossing the Rubicon
No Satire this Time
A few days ago, I tried my hand at satire, using Trump’s ridiculous levying of tariffs on a couple of remote penguin-inhabited islands as background. It didn’t work too well. From now on I will leave the art (science?) of satire to others, including the master of American political satire, the one and only Andy Borowitz, a man wo has been crafting political satire for the … [Read more...] about No Satire this Time
Waiting for the resistance
Many people have been wondering what shape mass resistance to Donald Trump will take. Of course it’s far better to be the resistance rather than wait for it and so on Saturday millions of people across America and the world took to the streets to protest against actions taken by the American president and his right-hand man Elon Musk. I happened to be in Ottawa where I took … [Read more...] about Waiting for the resistance
Don’t give me your “traditional values” crap.
If your so-called "traditional values" benefit your own ethnic group while harming others, then you are one the baddies even if you don't realize it. After all, the expression "traditional values" isn't a synonym for godly values or good values. The "Are we the baddies?" question comes from the British sketch-comedy TV series That Mitchell and Webb Look. One of the show's … [Read more...] about Don’t give me your “traditional values” crap.
Trump’s plan for America’s classrooms
This story had been out there for several days. The U.S. Naval Academy has taken nearly 400 books off the shelves in the Nimitz Library at the Annapolis, MD campus because they violate the new Trump Administration policy against DEI materials in the classroom. Initially, Trump issued an executive order in January that banned DEI materials in kindergarten through 12th grade … [Read more...] about Trump’s plan for America’s classrooms
New modelling reveals full impact of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs — with the US hit hardest
Getty Images Niven Winchester, Auckland University of Technology We now have a clearer picture of Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and how they will affect other trading nations, including the United States itself. The US administration claims these tariffs on imports will reduce the US trade deficit and address what it views as unfair and … [Read more...] about New modelling reveals full impact of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs — with the US hit hardest
Even Penguins Are Plundering America
(It is very challenging to satirize a monumental political blunder – a trade war that is rapidly escalating and could devastate the world’s economy – but here it goes.) Among the countries and territories affected by President Trump’s Liberation Day-announced expansive new tariffs are the Antarctic Heard Island and McDonald Islands, located more than 2,000 miles southwest … [Read more...] about Even Penguins Are Plundering America
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are the highest in decades – an economist explains how that could hurt the US
Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping new tariff plan on April 2, 2025, to reshape U.S. trade and boost domestic industry. Framing the announcement as “Liberation Day,” he proposed a 10% tariff on essentially all imports, with steeper rates for major trade partners, including 34% on Chinese goods and 20% on those … [Read more...] about Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are the highest in decades – an economist explains how that could hurt the US
Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time”
Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time”by McKenzie FunkProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Reporting HighlightsUnexpected Role: Flight attendants were told they would fly rock bands, sports teams and sun-seekers. … [Read more...] about Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time”
CHEESEHEAD (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
I never thought Democrats had a chance in Florida. Two special elections for Congress were held in Florida, both being strong Republican seats. One was the seat vacated by Michael Waltz who left to join the Trump administration where he could leak classified information on Signal group chats with other morons. Democrats thought the seat was competitive, but Republican … [Read more...] about CHEESEHEAD (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
‘Find Your Fight:’ Activist’s Manual for Changemaking is a Rallying Cry and Wake-Up Call
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. Find Your Fight by Jay Ruderman isn’t just a book—I found it to be a rallying cry. A deeply personal, straight-to-the-heart call to action for anyone who feels that pull to create real, lasting change in the world. Ruderman, a lifelong champion of social justice and inclusion, doesn’t deal in vague ideals or abstract encouragement—he hands you … [Read more...] about ‘Find Your Fight:’ Activist’s Manual for Changemaking is a Rallying Cry and Wake-Up Call
Teresa Suarez Marine Le Pen’s victim narrative is already being constructed – but there are ways to stop her criminal conviction benefitting her
Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath Marine Le Pen, figurehead of France’s Rassemblement National (RN), one of the most established far-right parties in Europe, has been found guilty of embezzling funds from the European parliament. During her time as an MEP between 2004 and 2017, Le Pen and her team paid party staff with funds that should have gone to European … [Read more...] about Teresa Suarez Marine Le Pen’s victim narrative is already being constructed – but there are ways to stop her criminal conviction benefitting her
When is a stunt not a stunt?
For 25 hours and five minutes, Senator Cory Booker stood on the Senate floor to give what is now the longest speech in the history of that body. He didn't eat, he didn't use the bathroom, he just kept on talking. When it was over, he had surpassed the record set in 1957 by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina that was intended to thwart efforts to pass civil rights … [Read more...] about When is a stunt not a stunt?
MUSK FLOPS IN WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT RACE: LIBERAL JUDGE ELECTED BY LARGE MARGIN
And they say Disney's live action remake of Snow White is a flop. Elon Musk's full-court press to defeat a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court judge bombed -- bigtime -- and now it's the Democrats who are singing "Whistle While You Work." The polarizing billionaire turned a vote for a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice into a referendum on him and President Donald Trump. But … [Read more...] about MUSK FLOPS IN WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT RACE: LIBERAL JUDGE ELECTED BY LARGE MARGIN